transitive verb
1
: to give an account of : tell
2
: to show or establish logical or causal connection between
seeks to relate crime to poverty
intransitive verb
1
: to apply or take effect retroactively
—usually used with back
the law relates back to the initial date of decision
2
: to have relationship or connection
the readings relate to his lectures
3
: to have or establish a relationship : interact
the way a child relates to a teacher
4
a
: to respond especially favorably
can’t relate to that kind of music
b
: to understand and like or have sympathy for someone or something
Those who have experienced the same hardship can relate.
characters the reader can easily relate to
Synonyms
Choose the Right Synonym for relate
joined forces in an effort to win
combine implies some merging or mingling with corresponding loss of identity of each unit.
combined jazz and rock to create a new music
unite implies somewhat greater loss of separate identity.
the colonies united to form a republic
connect suggests a loose or external attachment with little or no loss of identity.
a mutual defense treaty connected the two nations
link may imply strong connection or inseparability of elements still retaining identity.
a name forever linked with liberty
associate stresses the mere fact of frequent occurrence or existence together in space or in logical relation.
opera is popularly associated with high society
relate suggests the existence of a real or presumed logical connection.
related what he observed to what he already knew
Example Sentences
You must be feeling awful. I went through something similar myself last year, so I can relate.
We listened eagerly as she related the whole exciting story.
Recent Examples on the Web
Charley Gallay//Getty Images Everyone can relate to that moment, right?
—
Sara Klausing, Men’s Health, 8 Apr. 2023
The agency estimates approximately 1,000 additional background checks related to unfinished frames will occur each year.
—oregonlive, 8 Apr. 2023
Anyone with information related to Aaron’s murder is asked to contact the Oregon State Police Southern Command Center at 800-442-2068 or *OSP (*677) from your mobile phone.
—Kc Baker, Peoplemag, 7 Apr. 2023
The Kentucky Constitution of 1850 had identical language relating to how members could be expelled from a chamber.
—Joe Sonka, The Courier-Journal, 7 Apr. 2023
As a result, customers were reducing their waste, reducing their costs related to the scaling of their products, and quite often reducing the amount of man hours to actually inspect.
—Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 7 Apr. 2023
Love Dalén Perhaps most intriguing are the genes related to hair.
—Jeanne Timmons, Ars Technica, 7 Apr. 2023
Another similarity to fascism related to this preference for loyalty over training is the targeted sidelining of experts and outright rejection of contradictory viewpoints.
—Eden Mclean, Scientific American, 7 Apr. 2023
In recent years, Hezbollah has stayed out of other flareups related to the Al-Aqsa Mosque, which stands on a hilltop revered by Muslims and Jews.
—Josef Federman, USA TODAY, 7 Apr. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word ‘relate.’ Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Latin relatus (past participle of referre to carry back), from re- + latus, past participle of ferre to carry — more at tolerate, bear
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of relate was
in the 15th century
Dictionary Entries Near relate
Cite this Entry
“Relate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/relate. Accessed 13 Apr. 2023.
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Last Updated:
9 Apr 2023
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
Other forms: related; relating; relates
The verb relate means «to make a connection.» If you can relate to someone’s story, something like that has happened to you.
Relate also means «to give an account of something verbally,» like relating details of your trip to Sweden. That meaning of relate comes from the Latin word relatus, meaning «to recount, tell.» If you talk about the federal budget crisis, people might not be interested until you relate it, meaning «explain the relationship between,» to the possible job cuts at your local schools and police departments.
Definitions of relate
-
“The witness
related the events” -
verb
make a logical or causal connection
“I cannot
relate these events at all”-
synonyms:
associate, colligate, connect, link, link up, tie in
see moresee less-
Antonyms:
-
decouple, dissociate
regard as unconnected
-
types:
- show 7 types…
- hide 7 types…
-
remember
exercise, or have the power of, memory
-
interrelate
place into a mutual relationship
-
correlate
bring into a mutual, complementary, or reciprocal relation
-
identify
conceive of as united or associated
-
free-associate
associate freely
-
have in mind, mean, think of
intend to refer to
-
advert, bring up, cite, mention, name, refer
make reference to
-
type of:
-
cerebrate, cogitate, think
use or exercise the mind or one’s power of reason in order to make inferences, decisions, or arrive at a solution or judgments
-
decouple, dissociate
-
-
synonyms:
bear on, come to, concern, have-to doe with, pertain, refer, touch, touch on
-
advert, allude, touch
make a more or less disguised reference to
see moresee less-
types:
- show 6 types…
- hide 6 types…
-
center, center on, concentrate on, focus on, revolve about, revolve around
center upon
-
apply, go for, hold
be pertinent or relevant or applicable
-
affect, involve, regard
connect closely and often incriminatingly
-
interest, matter to
be of importance or consequence to
-
implicate
bring into intimate and incriminating connection
-
fascinate, intrigue
cause to be interested or curious
-
advert, allude, touch
-
verb
be in a relationship with
“How are these two observations
related?”-
synonyms:
interrelate
-
interrelate
place into a mutual relationship
see moresee less-
types:
-
predicate
make the (grammatical) predicate in a proposition
-
tutor
act as a guardian to someone
-
tie in
be in connection with something relevant
-
type of:
-
be
have the quality of being; (copula, used with an adjective or a predicate noun)
-
interrelate
-
verb
have or establish a relationship to
“She
relates well to her peers”see moresee less-
types:
- show 17 types…
- hide 17 types…
-
harmonise, harmonize
bring (several things) into consonance or relate harmoniously
-
bind, hold, obligate, oblige
bind by an obligation; cause to be indebted
-
connect
establish a rapport or relationship
-
disrespect
show a lack of respect for
-
mesh
work together in harmony
-
take back
resume a relationship with someone after an interruption, as in a wife taking back her husband
-
get along, get along with, get on, get on with
have smooth relations
-
attach, bind, bond, tie
create social or emotional ties
-
accommodate, conciliate, reconcile
make (one thing) compatible with (another)
-
proportion
give pleasant proportions to
-
pledge
bind or secure by a pledge
-
article
bind by a contract; especially for a training period
-
indent, indenture
bind by or as if by indentures, as of an apprentice or servant
-
tie down
restrain from independence by an obligation
-
fixate
attach (oneself) to a person or thing in a neurotic way
-
breach, break, go against, infract, offend, transgress, violate
act in disregard of laws, rules, contracts, or promises
-
befriend
become friends with
-
type of:
-
interact
act together or towards others or with others
DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘relate’.
Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors.
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- British
This shows grade level based on the word’s complexity.
This shows grade level based on the word’s complexity.
verb (used with object), re·lat·ed, re·lat·ing.
to tell; give an account of (an event, circumstance, etc.).
to bring into or establish association, connection, or relation: to relate events to probable causes.
verb (used without object), re·lat·ed, re·lat·ing.
to have reference (often followed by to).
to have some relation (often followed by to).
to establish a social or sympathetic relationship with a person or thing: two sisters unable to relate to each other.
QUIZ
CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?
There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?
Which sentence is correct?
Origin of relate
First recorded in 1480–90; from Latin relātus, past participle of referre “to carry back” (see refer)
synonym study for relate
1. Relate, recite, recount, rehearse mean to tell, report, or describe in some detail an occurrence or circumstance. To relate is to give an account of happenings, events, circumstances, etc.: to relate one’s adventures. To recite may mean to give details consecutively, but more often applies to the repetition from memory of something learned with verbal exactness: to recite a poem. To recount is usually to set forth consecutively the details of an occurrence, argument, experience, etc., to give an account in detail: to recount an unpleasant experience. Rehearse implies some formality and exactness in telling, sometimes with repeated performance as for practice before final delivery: to rehearse one’s side of a story.
OTHER WORDS FROM relate
re·lat·a·ble, adjectivere·lat·er, nounmis·re·late, verb, mis·re·lat·ed, mis·re·lat·ing.pre·re·late, verb (used with object), pre·re·lat·ed, pre·re·lat·ing.
un·re·lat·ing, adjective
Words nearby relate
relapse, relapsing fever, relata, relatability, relatable, relate, related, relation, relational, relational database, relations
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Words related to relate
describe, detail, disclose, present, reveal, affect, apply, ascribe, assign, associate, compare, concern, connect, link, pertain, refer, chronicle, depict, divulge, express
How to use relate in a sentence
-
This word can be used to describe something related to chemicals or chemistry.
-
They are going to try to find out who did it, they wrote, but they pulled down all the parts of the story related to Gloria.
-
Google, Facebook, and Twitter will be under increased pressure to control election-related misinformation, which the three have historically struggled to police.
-
In a sense help with understanding if the fact check is related to the main topic of stories.
-
Users typically have more than one question, and those questions are usually related to whatever stage they’re currently at in their buyer’s journey.
-
Unsurprisingly many of the prized lots relate to the Second World War.
-
I am not remotely embarrassed to relate he weighed just 9lb.
-
That the song has become so indelible is likely owed to the fact that we can all sort of relate.
-
The most important signals in the new cabinet thus far relate to the Kurds.
-
We were drawn to music from the outside, so we are able to relate to the outside world.
-
In this depraved state of mind he arrived at Perpignan, where that befell him which I am about to relate.
-
I have dared to relate this to your Majesty because of my zeal as a loyal vassal, and as one who looks at things dispassionately.
-
The tall policeman was an artist at the work; but it nearly brought him to a tragic end, as I will relate.
-
So that (wonderful to relate) they had no sickness, although there was sufficient cause for it in the privations they suffered.
-
This did not relate to the boilers; Trevithick unfortunately did not take out a patent for that improvement.
British Dictionary definitions for relate
verb
(tr) to tell or narrate (a story, information, etc)
(often foll by to) to establish association (between two or more things) or (of something) to have relation or reference (to something else)
(intr often foll by to) to form a sympathetic or significant relationship (with other people, things, etc)
Derived forms of relate
relatable, adjectiverelater, noun
Word Origin for relate
C16: from Latin relātus brought back, from referre to carry back, from re- + ferre to bear; see refer
Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Additionally, the three instances of the title relate conceptually to the three-story structure of the novel. ❋ Sean Williams (2008)
How does the title relate to the rest of the text? ❋ Bruce Schauble (2007)
How does the title relate to the thought of Bataille? ❋ Unknown (2007)
In addition to about 3 weeks of indifference on Mubarak’s part, he and his VP have been provoking people with the manner of delivering speeches and even the choice of words: «Road map?» how does this term relate to the Egyptian demands, it is merely used as a misleading political cliché used before by Israel and Jordan. ❋ Unknown (2011)
As if in relate of a king’s barbarous thoughts, Oswald right widely separated appears lusting for a red red blood of bad Gloucester, a attempted attempted attempted attempted murder which would win a menial reward from Goneril. ❋ Admin (2009)
Many valuable relics have been found, among which, curious to relate, is the smoke-consuming device of Biedenbach’s mentioned in the narrative. ❋ Unknown (2010)
One example that I can relate is that of the woman who wants a chair in a certain place while she reads or does her crafts and needlework. ❋ Unknown (2007)
The laws of gravity discovered by Einstein relate the size of the universe directly to its age. ❋ Unknown (2007)
Next up, and this does relate, is an article highlighted by Nico at ThinkProgress. ❋ Unknown (2006)
What I can relate is what Monk and I discussed after all was said and done and everyone had gone home. ❋ Unknown (2005)
The terms relate to the question of the existence of God. ❋ Unknown (2004)
Let us apply this wholesome maxim in our present study; let us, in so far as we can, regard the familiar terms — wealth, capital and money — as unfamiliar; let us deal with them afresh; let us examine openmindedly the facts — the phenomena — to which the terms relate and ascertain scientifically the significance the terms must have in a genuine science of human economy. ❋ Alfred Korzybski (1914)
The story that I am about to relate is only a fragment of it. ❋ Unknown (1869)
Similar to the sentiment that persisted at the previous rate decision, that energy prices were influencing inflationary pressures upwards, the Governing Council stated that «upside risks over the medium term relate, in particular, to the evolution of commodity prices.» ❋ Unknown (2010)
[I can relate] this story with what my [mama said]
[hashtags] placed on the captions- #relate, #relating ❋ SanCarlista (2018)
[So relatable] [wtf] ❋ Frickman (2017)
[Shall we] have relations? ❋ NDR (2005)
That [movie] really made me [emotional] and I could easily [relate] to it. It has amazing relatability. ❋ Anonomoose101 (2015)
[Lady Gaga] said [that there] must be something greater than her, meaning that there must be a God. That´s [relatable] to my ego ❋ Rperazag (2010)
[Yoooo] fam I’m [bout to blow] this girl’s [back out]. She said she doesn’t wanna date but we can pull a no relations ❋ BiGblAckH (2020)
[Brandon]: I could have sworn he was related. If I had known he wasn’t, I’d have never made a pass at him and [embarrassed] myself.
David: You’re lucky he didn’t [knock] the shit out of you. ❋ Cbranson (2010)
«[hahaha] look at that [guy’s] related top»
«hey, this [doll] is related» ❋ Mel (2004)
«[Yo dawg], [you got it] all wrong, yo. [Samuel L. Jackson] is totally relateable to The Rock. ❋ Jonny Fro (2008)
[Hannie’s] [Children] are all [so relatable] together . ❋ (2017)
относиться, связывать, рассказывать, член отношения
глагол ↓
- рассказывать
to relate a story — рассказать историю 
he related his adventures to us — он рассказал нам о своих приключениях
- (to, with) устанавливать связь или отношение
to relate theory and practice — связать теорию с практикой
it is difficult to relate these phenomena to /with/ each other — трудно установить связь между этими двумя явлениями
I find it hard to relate these events with his story — ≅ эти события плохо согласуются с тем, что он говорит
- (to) устанавливать личный контакт (с кем-л.)
she finds it difficult to relate to her fellow-students — она трудно сходится с сокурсниками
- реагировать, особ. положительно
I can’t relate to this kind of music — такая музыка мне ничего не говорит
- относиться, иметь отношение
he notices nothing but what relates to himself — он обращает внимание лишь на то, что касается непосредственно его
- pass быть связанным
the recent price increase is not related to alterations in the tax structure — недавнее повышение цен не связано с изменением структуры налогообложения
- состоять в родстве
Queen Victoria was related to many other monarchs — королева Виктория состояла в родстве со многими другими монархами
существительное
- лог. член отношения
Мои примеры
Словосочетания
people with foreign language fluency and an allied skill such as the ability to relate to people from different cultures… — люди, свободно владеющие иностранным языком и сопутствующим навыком вроде умения налаживать связь с людьми из других культур
to relate back to — иметь обратное действие с … , иметь обратную силу с …
relate to — иметь отношение
relate the facts as they actually happened — рассказывать все по порядку
relate the story to the police — рассказать о случившемся полиции
relate theory and practice — связать теорию с практикой
man-relate — пилотировать
relate a story — рассказать историю
relate back to — иметь обратное действие с; иметь обратную силу с
relate back — иметь обратное действие
relate terrain to the map — определять точки стояния на карте
Примеры с переводом
I cannot relate these events at all.
Я никак не могу связать эти события.
I don’t understand how the two ideas relate.
Я не понимаю, как связаны эти две идеи.
She relates well to her peers.
Она хорошо контактирует со своими ровесниками.
I can’t relate to loud modern music.
Я не признаю современную громкую музыку.
He notices nothing but what relates to himself.
Он замечает лишь то, что затрагивает его самого.
Laurie finds it difficult to relate to children.
Лори тяжело находить общий язык с детьми.
The children enjoyed relating their imaginary adventures to the visitors.
Дети с удовольствием рассказали гостям о своих вымышленных приключениях.
ещё 9 примеров свернуть
Возможные однокоренные слова
related — связанный, родственный
relation — отношение, связь, соотношение, зависимость, родственник, родство, родственница
relative — относительный, сравнительный, взаимный, родственник, родственница
misrelate — неправильно относить или соотносить, неправильно относить
relator — рассказчик, информатор, заявитель, знак отношения
relatable — близкий, связанный
Формы слова
verb
I/you/we/they: relate
he/she/it: relates
ing ф. (present participle): relating
2-я ф. (past tense): related
3-я ф. (past participle): related